Onyx Fall-Winter 2016

I am very honored to be a part of it,” Perry says. “I have heard people say ‘I’m not going to do it if I’m not going to get paid,’ but there are so many things that you can’t take money for, and this is just one. It’s definitely one of the lessons I learned while I was at The Woods; this is service and my passion.”

She even put the two together for her senior exhibit. The subject material may have been edgy, showcasing military veterans after their return to traditional life and the challenges they face both mentally and physically. Perry says she was apprehensive about how it would be received. “I was very worried,” she says of the project. “I didn’t know how it would go over, but had compliments. People were astonished.” The most astonished of all may have been Brown, who was featured in the project. Photos of Brown, along with words like “PTSD” (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and “honor” surrounded photos of her in both her uniform and presenting her many injuries. “Judy was always my connection; she has a lot to say about her time in the military and she struggled to find

Now working as a graphic designer at Valley Press in Terre Haute and Perrelle Management Company in Bloomington, Ind., Perry says the majority of her time outside of work is dedicated to wounded veterans. She’s traveled to numerous events across the country and spends hours creating websites to highlight the many aspects of veteran life. In the future, she says she would love to document the Indianapolis Honor Flight and take along her grandfather. The one thing she says she won’t be doing accepting money for her services.

Amanda’s 92-year-old Great Grandpa Donald O. Coe. He is a WWII veteran.

a way to tell that story,” Perry says. “Before, Judy was prideful and angry

about how she was treated and what happened to her… that was a way for me to help her get her story out. I was happy to help her work her way through it.”

What's behind the Smile: Amanda’s photo piece that helped Judy Brown tell her story.

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